Latest news with #HengawHumanRightsOrganization
Rudaw Net
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Three dead in natural park blaze in Iran's Kurdistan province: Watchdog
Also in Iran Iran executes over 100 Kurds in 2025 amid post-war crackdown: Watchdog Tensions rise in Iranian parliament ahead of IAEA visit At least five killed in attack on Iran courthouse Iranian diplomat says had 'frank' talks with European powers A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Three environmental activists lost their lives and several others were injured while attempting to extinguish a wildfire that broke out in a popular natural park in western Iran's (Rojhelat) Kurdistan province, a human rights watchdog said on Monday. A blaze at Kurdistan's Abidar Natural Park, among the most well-known areas in the province, broke out on Thursday and quickly spread to residential complexes nearby. The fire was eventually brought under control by local residents and environmental activists, who criticized the government for insufficient support. The Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization said that environmental activists Khabat Amini, Chaiko Yousefinejad, and Hamid Moradi died due to 'severe burns' sustained from the fire. Five other environmental activists were injured, according to Hengaw. Footage dated Monday showed a large crowd gathering before a local hospital in Kurdistan's provincial capital of Sanandaj to honor their dedication, Hengaw added, and their funerals drew a large crowd. A two-day mourning period was declared in Sanandaj by Governor Arash Lihony after their deaths. The Abidar Natural Park in Kurdistan province is renowned for its scenic beauty and its open-air cinema, considered one of the largest of its kind in the Middle East, making it a popular tourist destination and outdoor recreation area for residents. Forest fires in Rojhelat, particularly in the vicinity of Kurdistan province, have become increasingly regular over the past few years, sparking concerns from environmentalists amid claims of arson. Many hold the Iranian government responsible for the blazes. Iranian security forces also routinely arrest environmentalists seeking to control the flames.
Rudaw Net
a day ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iran executes over 100 Kurds in 2025 amid post-war crackdown: Watchdog
Also in Iran Tensions rise in Iranian parliament ahead of IAEA visit At least five killed in attack on Iran courthouse Iranian diplomat says had 'frank' talks with European powers Iran says to continue nuclear enrichment A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran has executed at least 100 Kurdish citizens since the start of 2025, including several political prisoners, a human rights watchdog warned Sunday. The surge comes as Iran has been upping its sentences on detainees, following its recent 12-day war with Israel. 'Since the beginning of 2025, the Islamic Republic of Iran has executed at least 100 Kurds, including four political prisoners,' reported the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization. The watchdog censured what it described as Tehran's 'death-driven and discriminatory policy,' calling it 'part of a broader project of structural oppression against the Kurdish people that must be halted immediately.' On Saturday, Hengaw released a detailed report documenting a steep deterioration in the country's human rights landscape following the June conflict between Iran and Israel. According to the watchdog, between the outbreak of the war on June 13 and a month after the ceasefire on June 24, 'at least 85 prisoners have been executed in various prisons' across Iran. Among the executed were six individuals - three of them Kurdish - accused of 'espionage for Israel.' Hengaw noted that these executions were carried out secretly, with no final visits permitted for families. Hengaw also reported that 'at least 30 political activists, including 18 Kurdish citizens, were sentenced to death or imprisonment" by the Iranian judiciary over the past month, with cumulative sentences amounting to 272 years and 9 months. Additionally, the Oslo-based human rights monitor pointed to widespread arrests. 'From the start of the Iran-Israel war until one month after the ceasefire, at least 1,800 people were arrested across Iran,' it said. Kurds made up the largest share, with 500 detained. Many were accused by Iranian intelligence agencies of "espionage for Israel." For its part, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) on Thursday corroborated these findings, reporting that "over 330 Kurdish activists and other citizens' were arrested across Iran by the Iranian intelligence ministry and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence apparatus during the conflict with Israel and its aftermath. Among them, 18 Kurdish political activists were collectively sentenced to 221 years and 7 months in prison, and five received a total of 11 death sentences for charges including 'collaboration with [the Israeli intelligence agency] Mossad and Israel.' These reports emerge amid new measures taken by Iranian authorities to intensify the crackdown on alleged espionage and collaboration with Israel and the United States. Earlier this month, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, head of Iran's judiciary, ordered expedited processing of spy cases linked to Israel. 'Part of the deterrence in this matter lies in the speed of action,' Ejei said. His comments followed the Iranian parliament's passage of amendments to the country's espionage laws, significantly broadening the definition of hostile activity and introducing capital punishment for a wider range of offenses linked to Israel and the United States. Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated sharply on June 13 after Israeli airstrikes in Iran killed several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets. The conflict widened on June 22 when the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites, prompting Tehran to strike back with a missile attack on a US base in Qatar. A ceasefire, brokered by Washington, took effect on June 24 and has largely held. Since the ceasefire, Iranian authorities have ramped up arrests and executions of alleged spies, releasing televised confessions from several detainees. However, human rights groups have questioned the credibility of such confessions, citing longstanding concerns over Iran's use of coercion to extract false admissions.
Rudaw Net
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iran frees teen held for reciting Kurdish poetry, father still detained
Also in Iran Iran expands crackdown on alleged spies, collaborators with Israel, US Trump says scheduled new nuclear talks with Iran Pezeshkian accuses Israel of assasination attempt, 'destroying' US-Iran diplomacy Iran arrests 900 since start of Israel war: watchdog A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian intelligence forces have released 14-year-old Kezhal Salehi three days after she was detained for reciting Kurdish poetry, a watchdog said on Thursday. Her father remains in custody. 'Kezhal Salehi, a 14-year-old Kurdish girl from the village of Naveh in Bojnurd, North Khorasan Province, was temporarily released after three days in detention,' stated the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization. The girl's father, Araz Salehi, remains in detention. He was arrested on Tuesday. 'Security forces raided her parents' home in an attempt to arrest her. When they failed to locate her, they detained her father instead. A few hours later, Kezhal was arrested at a separate location,' Hengaw said. Kezhal was arrested after reciting Kurdish poems in praise of Kurdistan at several cultural events. Her performances drew widespread support and went viral on social media among the Kurdish population in Iran. According to information received by Hengaw, on the evening of Tuesday, July 15, 2025, forces from the Intelligence Department in Bojnurd, North Khorasan province, raided the home of 14-year-old Kazhal Salehi with the intention of arresting her. Hengaw has learned that Kazhal… — Hengaw Organization for Human Rights (@Hengaw_English) July 15, 2025 Intelligence forces confiscated all mobile phones and electronic devices during a search of the family's home and ordered all family members to report for interrogation, according to Hengaw. Iran's constitution recognizes Persian as the official language but allows for the use of 'regional and tribal languages' in the press and mass media, and for teaching the literature of those languages in schools. Kurdish teachers and activists have long campaigned for the implementation of this right, but many continue to be arrested for their efforts to promote and teach the Kurdish language. Since Israel's attack on Iran last month and their 12-day war, Iranian authorities have arrested more than 318 Kurds, in addition to many others across the country, according to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).
Rudaw Net
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Two Kurdish families are fighting death sentences in Iran
Also in Iran Teacher beats 13 students in Iran sending shockwaves across the country Oman to continue mediating US-Iran talks: Tehran Iran's oil minister to visit Iraq, energy deal expected Iran says 'constructive' talks with US to continue next week A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two Kurdish families from western Iran are fighting the death sentences handed down to their loved ones. Pejman Soltani, 32, from Bukan, and Hamid Hoseinnezhad Heidaranlou, 40, from the village of Segrik in Chaldoran, have both been sentenced to death on separate charges by courts in Urmia, according to the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization. Their families are now fighting to raise awareness and halt the executions. Hamid Hoseinnezhad Heidaranlou Heidaranlou was convicted of 'baghi' (armed rebellion) in connection with his alleged membership in the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and has been 'transferred to solitary confinement in Urmia Central Prison ahead of his scheduled execution,' placing him at imminent risk, according to Hengaw. Iran's state-owned Fars News Agency on Saturday aired a documentary titled 'Hamid Hosseinezhad Confession,' featuring his alleged involvement in the killing of eight border guards in Chaldoran. These types of confession are widely believed to be coerced, often obtained under threats, psychological pressure, and, in some cases, physical torture. 'The continuation of this situation, given the broadcast of Hamid Hoseinnezhad Heidaranlou's forced confessions, brings serious news of the possibility of this verdict being implemented in the coming hours,' Hengaw said in a post Saturday on X accompanied by a video showing family members gathered in front of the Urmia Revolutionary Court. Heidaranlou was able to briefly speak to his family and 'asked them to continue to follow up on his case,' according to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network. The family has requested a retrial. Heidaranlou's daughter released a video that was shared by Hengaw. In it, she said Iranian security forces pressured the family to falsely claim that their father had left them during a vacation, trying to link him to a deadly operation where the PKK was accused of killing eight security personnel. Hengaw has obtained a photo of Heidaranlou's passport showing dated exit and entry stamps, contradicting Iran's claim that he was inside the country at the time of the incident. Pejman Soltani Pejman Soltani, 'arrested during the 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadi' (Woman, Life, Freedom) movement in Bukan, has been sentenced to death by Branch One of the Special Juvenile Criminal Court of West Azerbaijan (Urmia) Province,' Hengaw reported on February 9. The protests were sparked in September 2022 when a Kurdish woman, Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, died in police custody after she was arrested for allegedly violating Iran's compulsory hijab law. The nationwide protests were the longest anti-government demonstrations the country had seen in four decades. Soltani was convicted of the 'premeditated murder' of a member of the Basij voluntary paramilitary force during the protests. His mother, Fawzia Soltani, told Rudaw that the family of the person killed has agreed to waive the execution sentence in exchange for five billion tomans (around $60,000), as is possible under Iranian law. Seyyed Hassan Bukani, a philanthropist from Bukan, has announced a campaign to raise the money. Iran executed an estimated 909 people in 2024, with Kurds making up 20 percent of the total, according to Hengaw. Human rights organizations have criticized Tehran's use of the death penalty, especially for minority groups and people who protest against the regime. 'In 2024, Iran persisted in their use of the death penalty to punish individuals who had challenged the Islamic Republic establishment during the Woman Life Freedom uprising,' Amnesty International said in a report earlier this month.
Rudaw Net
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Teacher beats 13 students in Iran sending shockwaves across the country
Also in Iran Oman to continue mediating US-Iran talks: Tehran Iran's oil minister to visit Iraq, energy deal expected Iran says 'constructive' talks with US to continue next week US-Iran nuclear talks kick off in Oman A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A teacher in Iran's Kurdistan province is under investigation after reportedly beating 13 primary school students, leaving at least one hospitalized, according to reports from state-affiliated media and human rights groups. Graphic images and videos circulated by Iranian users on social media show children with visible whip marks on their skin, reportedly resulting from the beating they received from their teacher in the village of Karjo in Sanandaj district. The Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization on Monday reported that the teacher assaulted 13 students after accusing them of stealing his mobile phone charger. Hengaw quoted one of the students as stating, 'After the teacher lost his mobile phone charger, he detained us and severely beat us on suspicion of taking it.' The human rights watchdog added that 'one of the students was hospitalized due to the severe injuries' he sustained. Hengaw additionally cited the students as stating that their teacher threatened to file lawsuits against them if they exposed his abuse, warning them that such a complaint could lead to them receiving 'the death penalty once they turned 18.' Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), corroborated Hengaw's report, confirming that a student was seriously injured and hospitalized as a result of the beating. A local education official in Sanandaj, Salah al-Din Mofidi, confirmed to Tasnim that Iranian authorities 'have taken the necessary measures' and that the teacher 'will not be allowed to return to the classroom.' Hashem Nazemi Jalal, head of general education in Iran's Kurdistan province, also confirmed to Tasnim that the teacher is under investigation, pending a final decision.
